ORLANDO, FLA. – A Florida judge is denying prosecutors' request for a gag order in the trial of a neighborhood watch leader charged with fatally shooting 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

Circuit Judge Debra Nelson said in an order Monday that there was no need for a gag order at this time to ensure a fair trial for George Zimmerman. ::snipping2::Prosecutors had asked for the gag order, claiming a website and social media used by Zimmerman's attorney could influence potential jurors in the racially charged case.

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" Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts." - Daniel Moynihan

SANFORD – Circuit Judge Debra S. Nelson on Monday refused to issue a gag order in the George Zimmerman second-degree murder case.

In a two-page order, the judge wrote that she found no "overriding pattern of prejudicial commentary" and noted that a dozen media companies that had opposed the order, including the Orlando Sentinel, were right when they argued that the state had failed to demonstrate prejudice. (snip)

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Puzzler - that which puzzles or perplexes; anything that arouses curiosity or perplexes because it is unexplained, inexplicable or secret.

::snipping2::In the meantime, Nelson's ruling on another issue was released Monday: She gave prosecutors fewer of the defendant's medical records than attorneys for Trayvon Martin's family had hoped.

They had asked for all his medical records. Defense attorneys had squawked, saying that would violate Zimmerman's right to privacy. So the judge looked them over and handed to the state only those that she said were relevant: those related to injuries Zimmerman suffered the night he shot the unarmed 17-year-old.

"Any injuries received that night would clearly be relevant to a self-defense claim, as would any similar injuries present before that night or continuing symptoms after that night," she wrote. "Observations of the defendant's physical appearance surrounding the date of the shooting may also be relevant. However, other medical records relating to the treatment of untreated maladies should not be disclosed." ::snipping2::

(CBS NEWS) - Trayvon Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton is clarifying remarks she made Thursday morning that the shooting of her son by George Zimmerman was an accident.

Fulton was interviewed on NBC's "Today" show the morning after George Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder in the death of her son.

When asked what she would say if she could talk to Zimmerman face to face, Fulton said a person should apologize if they are remorseful. She then said she believed the shooting was an accident and things got out of control.

SANFORD – Jose Baez, Casey Anthony's defense attorney, this week wrote a short snippy letter to the judge in the George Zimmerman case, accusing prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda of getting his facts wrong in court Friday when he said Baez had been held in contempt of court during the Anthony trial.

Baez was fined for failing to turn over evidence, he wrote, but was never found in contempt. And the fine had nothing to do with Baez's comments to the media, something de la Rionda suggested as he tried but failed to convince Circuit Judge Debra S. Nelson to impose a gag order in the Zimmerman case.

"I am certain that Mr. De la Rionda was more careful with his other argument, however, I will ask him personally to please verify his facts in the future before recklessly attempting to tarnish any other members of the Central Florida legal community," Baez wrote in his letter to Nelson.

It was dated Monday. The judge made it public Tuesday.

De la Rionda's statements in court about Baez "are completely false," Baez wrote. "I am available to the court if further clarification is needed." ::snipping2::

George Zimmerman's older brother, Robert Zimmerman Jr., told a group of Hispanic journalists Thursday that he is confronting a "tidal wave of misinformation" about his family because of the publicity surrounding his brother's case.

Robert Zimmerman Jr. spoke publicly in Orlando because he thought it was time to rebut the charges of racism that have mischaracterized his family, Zimmerman said.

"At the beginning, we couldn't speak publicly to the media to defend ourselves against the allegations that we are family of racists and that George is a racist," Robert Zimmerman Jr. said in Spanish to members of the Central Florida chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

"We didn't grow up with racism,'' he added. "We grew up with a Latino mother and white father. Theirs was an interracial love story."

His brother, George Zimmerman, is facing a second-degree-murder charge in the Feb. 26 shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed, black 17-year-old from Miami Gardens who was in Sanford visiting family when he and the Neighborhood Watch volunteer crossed paths. ::snipping2::

George Zimmerman's team to question more witnesses12:28 p.m. EST, November 6, 2012

George Zimmerman's defense team plans to interview several of the still-unnamed civilian witnesses in his second-degree murder case later this week, according to new court documents.

On Thursday, Zimmerman's attorneys will depose five numbered witnesses listed by prosecutors — witnesses 3, 12, 13, 19 and 21. Two more — witnesses 1 and 2 — will be deposed on Friday.

A Sanford police captain and a private investigator are also listed on the new deposition schedules.

Dozens of the civilian witnesses in the case are listed only by number in publicly available documents in the high-profile case in order to protect their privacy and Zimmerman's fair-trial rights.

Many are neighbors of Zimmerman's who saw or heard something on Feb. 26, the night he shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Some have given conflicting accounts in various law enforcement interviews. ::snipping2::

On Wednesday, Mark O'Mara, defense attorney to George Zimmerman, said that his witness would be given numbers as identities. O'Mara will submit a list of additional witness to Judge Debra Nelson on Thursday, while keeping their names unknown.

In October, O'Mara presented a list of police involved in the investigation of the murder of Trayvon Martin as well as his client's arrest at the trial.

The police usually provide testimonies for the state. But according to The Hispanic Business, O'Mara will be using this unusual strategy in defending his client who is being charged with second-degree murder of 17-year-old Martin.

The defense claims to currently have between 50-70 witnesses according to the Huffington Post. Zimmerman's legal team submitted a request to delay the trial, which is been set for June 10. O'Mara states that the defense needs additional time to prepare for the caseRead more...

The newly-released evidence includes five FBI reports, 10 reports by employees of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and details and notes from the files of FDLE scientists who did DNA and other evidence analysis.

Prosecutors also disclosed the identities of a dozen new state witnesses, although Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda characterized most as category "b" or "c" witnesses, meaning there are not expected to be prominent at trial.

One is the physician's assistant who treated Zimmerman. Three others are Zimmerman's neighbors. ::snipping2::These new records should be released to the public in a few days or weeks.

PENSACOLA — A panel tasked with looking into the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law finalized its recommendations on Tuesday, essentially affirming the law and saying that citizens have a right to defend themselves with deadly force without the duty to retreat when they feel threatened. ::snipping2::

The only post the defense team has made on the GZLegalCase.com website since the State’s Second Motion for Gag Order dated October 18 was an article entitled “Zimmerman Defense Invites Public Scrutiny of Media Policy.” Otherwise, we had effectively suspended our digital media campaign out of respect to the Court while the Second Motion for Gag Order was under consideration. ::snipping2::From now on, we will post ALL public documents associated with the Zimmerman case, including motions filed by the defense and the State, as well as orders filed by the Court. We will file Notices of Deposition; however, we will continue to maintain the previously guarded privacy of certain witnesses, and will not post the names of witnesses being deposed unless their names have been previously disclosed by the State. These witness categories include law enforcement officers and witnesses who have voluntarily disclosed their identity to the media.

Prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges in the Trayvon Martin murder case have gone to great lengths to protect the names of witnesses, fearing they'd be hounded by reporters, curiosity-seekers or worse. But lead prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda has inadvertently leaked the names of a dozen witnesses, violating a court order.

It's not clear what will happen now and whether he'll face any sort of sanction or punishment from the judge in the case, Debra S. Nelson in Sanford.

The foul-up happened in a court filing last week.

De la Rionda delivered a new set of evidence to defense attorneys on Thursday, Nov. 8, and as is required, he prepared a summary sheet and delivered it to the Seminole County courthouse.

Normally, he prepares two sets of summary sheets, one for defense attorneys that includes witness names and other protected information, and a second for the public that goes into the courthouse file. It typically identifies witnesses by number, for example witness 17.

But last Thursday de la Rionda filed the summary sheet that included witness names in the courthouse file, where anyone is free to look at it.

It lists nearly a dozen new witnesses. None is expected to be a major figure at George Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial. They include several of his neighbors, the physician's assistant who treated him the day after the shooting and two black Sanford community leaders who were at a U.S. Department of Justice meeting several months ago.

Those last two said they were baffled that they were on a witness list and had no first-hand knowledge about Zimmerman, Trayvon or the night of the shooting.

A spokesman for de la Rionda's office did not return an email, seeking comment about the leaked names. ::snipping2::

A Eustis police official wants to be the top cop in Sanford, a position that became vacant amid the Trayvon Martin shooting controversy.

Anthony Robinson, who's been with the Eustis Police Department since 1981 and its deputy chief since 2007, is among 31 candidates who have applied for the position of Sanford police chief as of Thursday, according to that city's human resources department. ::snipping2::Lt. Paul Hopkins of the Orange County Sheriff's Office is the only other Central Florida candidate for the Sanford job.

Fred Fosson, Sanford's human resources director, said a recruiting organization will recommend some of the applicants for futher consideration and the city could make a final selection in February -- about four months before Zimmerman stands trial on the murder charges.

George Zimmerman lawyers to depose first cop on the scene of Trayvon's shooting10:43 a.m. EST, November 16, 2012

According to new court paperwork, George Zimmerman's attorneys plan to depose next Tuesday two key Sanford cops: Tim Smith, the first officer on the scene and the man who handcuffed George Zimmerman, and then-Sgt. Randy Smith, the front-line manager who oversaw the police investigation.

Both men may wind up as key witnesses at Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial.::snipping2::In his police report, Tim Smith wrote that when he got to the scene, he saw that Zimmerman's back was wet and had grass clippings on it. That suggests the defendant had been on the ground, facing up.

Tim Smith also wrote that he saw blood coming from Zimmerman's nose and the back of his head. ::snipping2::Randy Smith, who has since been promoted to lieutenant, was deeply involved in the investigation. At the time, he was manager of the department's major crimes section, meaning he was the boss of lead Investigator Chris Serino.

The day after the shooting, Randy Smith accompanied Serino and Zimmerman to the scene, where Zimmerman re-enacted what he said happened.

Serino has not yet been deposed, but several other Sanford officers have, including other who were at the scene that night. ::snipping2::